Automobile robe support and bracket therefor



March 2, 1937. A. CLAUD-MANTLE 2,072,118

AUTOMOBILE ROBE SUPPORT AND BRACKET THEREFOR Filed Aug. 26, 1955 I I 'INVENTOR Pm-x-Huw ELAun-MANTLL BY W ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UETED STATES PATENET OFFICE AUTOMOBILE ROBE SUPPORT AND BRACKET THEREFOR Application August 26, 1935, Serial No. 37,792

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved automobile robe support and bracket therefor, and has for an object to provide a robe support having a flexible non-elastic cord and attaching brackets receiving the ends of the cord, and spring means within the brackets to which the ends of the cord are secured, whereby the cord will remain at all times taut, and when it is desired to support a robe or garment thereon it may be extended to receive the robe or garment and will then retain the same under spring pressure. A further object is to provide bracket means which may be economically constructed, and which will be of relatively small longitudinal dimension while permitting a maximum movement of the end of the cord therein. It is particularly proposed to provide spring means for retaining the cord end which will be in the form of a flat spiral spring and which may be conveniently arranged at one side of the cord, to the end that a spring of relatively great strength may be employed without increase in the longitudinal dimension of the bracket. Another object is to provide a bracket in which the resilient action is limited to a predetermined extent whereby excess pressure will be transmitted to a solid support and not exerted upon the spring means.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a front elevation showing a robe rail and end brackets, according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, the dot-and-dash lines showing the extended position of the cord.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one bracket provided at one end of the robe rail, the bracket of the other end being identical but reversed.

Fig. 4 is an inner end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view,

43 the line 5-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, along the line 'l-l of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the exemplary illustrated embodiment of the invention shown therein comprises a flexible non-elastic cord member it slidably and resiliently connected at its ends within brackets which are secured to the back taken along taken of the automobile seat. Inasmuch as these brackets are of identical construction only one will be described in detail.

The bracket comprises a casing II, which is preferably in the form of a one piece metal casting, this casing being open at the under side and provided with a peripheral rim or flange I2. In the upper portion of the bracket at one side thereis provided projecting bearing portion I3 having a cylindrical passage I4 therethrough for receiving the cord III, the cord being provided upon its end with an eye clip member I5, this member being of well known construction and being tightly clamped about the end of the cord.

The casing II extends downwardly from the longitudinal axis of the cord passage I4 to provide a spring receiving pocket, the peripheral wall I2 at this downwardly projecting portion being of circumferential outline. A post I6 is formed centrally of the spring receiving pocket and is provided with a transverse slot II within which the inner end of the spiral spring I8 is engaged and secured. The outer end of the spiral spring projects upwardly in the casing and is engaged with the eye clip member I5 and exerts inward pressure upon the cord II). The peripheral wall of the casing is of arcuate shape at its upper end to conform to the path of movement of the upper end of the spring, and at its rearward portion is curved first inwardly and then outwardly to conform to the shape of the outer end of the spring so as to provide a limit stop for the expanding action of the spring.

The lower portion of the casing it will be noted is of gradually decreasing thickness toward the lower end so that the lower portion within which the coils of the spring are engaged are of just sufficient width to receive the spring and permit its spring action, thus providing a compact structure and at the same time confining the spring against displacement. The spring is disposed in an inclined relation in the casing, the slot I'I being inclined to support it in this relation. Counter-sunk screw holes I9-I9 are provided in the bearing portion I3 at each side of the passage I4 and a counter-sunk screw hole 20 is provided through the post I6, these screw holes being for the purpose of securing the bracket to the seat back by means of screws 2 I, as shown in Fig. 1.

In operation the springs within the brackets at each end of the cord are normally under tension, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the cord is at all times taut. Upon extending the cord as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2 further tension is applied to the spring, and any articles hung upon the cord will be securely held under spring pressure. When the cord is extended to its limit the spring end abuts the inner end of the bearing portion l3 and further pull thereon is therefore transmitted directly to the casing, so that excessive strain will not be exerted upon the spring.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A bracket for an automobile robe support, comprising a casing adaptedto receive the eye clip member of a robe supporting cord, said casing having a cylindrical passage for said cord provided with a shoulder at its inner end, and a pocket open at the inner side of said casing and in communication with said passage, a spiral spring secured at its inner end within said pocket at one side of the axis of said passage, the outer end of said spring being engaged with the eye of said eye clip member, outward movement of said cord being limited through engagement of said outer end of said spring with said shoulder.

2. A bracket for an automobile robe support, comprising a casing adapted to receive the end member of a robe supporting cord, said casing having a passage for said cord and a pocket open at the inner side of said casing and in communication with said passage, a post formed in said pocket at one side of the axis of said passage having a tranverse slot therein, a spiral spring engaged at its inner end in said slot of said post, the outer end of said spring being engaged with said end member of the cord.

3. A bracket for an automobile robe support, comprising a casing adapted to receive the end member of a robe supporting cord, said casing having a cylindrical passage for said cord provided with a shoulder at its inner end, and a pocket open at the inner side of said casing and in communication with said passage, a spiral spring secured at its inner end within said pocket at one side of the axis of said passage,- the outer end of said spring being engaged with said end member of the cord, outward movement of said cord being limited through engagement of said outer end of said spring with said shoulder.

ARTHUR CLAUD-MANTLE. 

